Faults:

Nissan Navigation system is horrible. It is hard to use. Help desk should be renamed HELPLESS desk. Nav System is not as accurate as that of other manufacturers. Features seem to work intermittently. Dealers know nothing about the Nav System. Nissan says Nav System is not under the new car warranty. I have demanded a new Nav system that has been on back order for 6 weeks.

XM radio shuts off from time to time. Unit is on back order too.

Traded a 2004 Maxima SE for a 2004 Maxima SL because the SE's front suspension would start to shimmy violently. I have since found out that Nissan has a fix for front suspension shimmy, but my dealer did not perform the fix.

General Comments:

I have had them both! SE drives well, but has a horrible ride. SL is smooth, but does not drive all that well. Nissan would do better with one suspension somewhere between the SE & SL.

Nissan is putting too much on the market to quickly. Dealers can't stay "current".

Faults:

One wet morning, the warning light for the battery charging system came on, but it went out within one minute and has not returned.

General Comments:

This car's driving dynamics are fantastic, maybe the best front-driver ever.

The interior is very nice, but some of the materials could be better.

The list of standard features includes all of the safety stuff, plus lots of conveinince equipment. Most of the options are just fluff.

The Skyview roof is great, it brings in a lot of light, especially with a black interior color.

The standard sound system rocks very hard, I couldn't really tell the difference between it (240 watts) and the upgrade (320 watts).

The cloth power driver's seat is fantastic. You can set it upright and forward, with the steering wheel away and the console armrest in the lower position for around-town driving, so you can get leverage on the clutch, the shifter, and the wheel. For highway cruising, run the seat back and recline it, bring the steering wheel close, and move the console armrest to the upper position (it's adjustable). You can prop both your elbows and hold the wheel, something I haven't been able to do in a car since the early 1980's.

Faults:

So far, the only issue I have with this car is the middle console cup holder. It has a pressure opening mechanism, which, on cold mornings (when it is needed most) will not open when pressed.

General Comments:

This is my third Maxima and, by far, my favorite. This year's new, sportier looks match the sporty, luxurious feel and drive my previous Maximas have had. Along with a powerful, rocket of a V6, 265hp engine, the 2004 Maxima comes stock with 18 inch wheels that add sports car looks to a family size sedan.

To add some luxury to the fun, I opted for the leather interior, complete with seat warmers that work like a charm. The in-dash, 6 CD, 8 speaker Bose stereo system sounds crisper and cleaner than that in the Lincoln LS I was considering. In fact, my 2004 Maxima came with all the luxuries of the LS for $12K less than the '04 LS. However, the LS did offer a V8 model that is not an option with the Maxima.

Even with not being completely broken in yet, I'm getting 22 miles per gallon around town; better than the average for the 255hp 3.5 V6 Altima I was also considering. There was a $3k price difference between the two, but the Maxima has richer leather, Tektronix shifting, electronic telescoping steering with two preset positions, and xenon headlights. None of which were in the Altima I tested.

I have always contended that the Maxima is the most under-rated, overlooked vehicle on the market. This 2004 should get it the positive attention it deserves.